One-Year Anniversary of Campus Carry Brings Changes to State Law and SCC

by Michael Newbern on August 1, 2017

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today marks both the one-year anniversary of campus carry at Texas universities and the first day of campus carry at Texas junior/community colleges. Students for Concealed Carry (SCC) celebrates the fact that, 366 days afterTexas Senate Bill 11 legalized the licensed, concealed carry of handguns at four-year institutions of higher education, not a single university has reported a resulting assault, suicide attempt, fatality, or injury. We hope this track record will inspire university regents, state legislators, and the Office of the Attorney General to work to strike down the handful of university policies that continue to circumvent the clear intent of SB 11 by prohibiting many—and in some cases all—license to carry (LTC) holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus.

Although opponents of campus carry still challenge the wisdom and efficacy of SB 11, claiming that the law is unnecessary and that it poses a greater risk at two-year colleges where high school students may be dual-enrolled, such claims ignore both the intent of the law and the relevant facts. The evidence strongly suggests that campus carry has had no ill effect on four-year universities, and we have every reason to expect the same result at two-year colleges.

In other news, today marks a transition in SCC’s leadership. Quinn Cox, an incoming junior who previously served as vice president of SCC’s campus chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, will assume the role of Southwest regional director. Cox takes over for outgoing regional director Brian Bensimon, who held the position during the 2016-2017 school year. Bensimon, who served as SCC’s director for the state of Texas before being promoted to regional director, will remain on as a senior advisor to SCC’s state chapter.

Incoming director Cox commented:

Today marks an important milestone for Texas’ campus carry law. Contrary to critics’ predictions, college life hasn’t changed much in the Lone Star State—as has been the case in every other state that allows the licensed, concealed carry of handguns on college campuses, time has shown the law to be a non-issue. Today also marks an important milestone for me personally. I am honored to accept the regional director position, and I look forward to continuing the fight for campus carry in Texas. I applaud my predecessor for the leadership and guidance he brought to the role, and I will do my best to continue his steadfast commitment to the cause.

Outgoing director Bensimon stated:

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had in serving as SCC’s Southwest regional director, but I leave the position knowing that the organization will be in good hands with Quinn Cox. Cox worked behind the scenes for months to help build our local chapter at UT and, in doing so, demonstrated poise, diligence, and a firm grasp of the issue. Quinn is exceedingly qualified to lead Texas into the next era of campus carry, and I have full trust and confidence in his abilities.

Michael Newbern, SCC assistant director of public relations, added:

Bensimon performed admirably as a regional director and always acted with grace and diplomacy. We are sure to miss his day-to-day contributions to SCC, but we are glad to retain him as a senior advisor. Although Bensimon will be missed, we are glad that we have found someone as capable and qualified as Cox to help lead our organization. Campus carry advocates can rest assured that this student-led movement is in good hands.

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ABOUT STUDENTS FOR CONCEALED CARRY — Students for Concealed Carry (SCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising college students, faculty, staff, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. For more information on SCC, visit ConcealedCampus.org or Facebook.com/ConcealedCampus. For more information on the debate over campus carry in Texas, visit WhyCampusCarry.com.